Incumbent Ed Gainey will not be Pittsburgh's mayor next year.
Challenger Corey O'Connor won the hotly contested Democratic primary with 53 percent of the vote, telling his backers last night, “I want my kids to raise their families here, like my wife Katie and I are doing. I want you to raise your kids and your grandkids here because our message has always been Pittsburgh should always be every family’s first choice.”
Mayor Ed Gainey conceded and told KDKA-TV that he is “proud” of the work he has done and will continue to work toward making Pittsburgh a better place to live.
"While tonight’s result isn’t what we hoped for, our people-powered movement in Pittsburgh is stronger than it’s ever been before thanks to every person who was part of this campaign to build a city for all.
"The multi-generational, multi racial-movement that has been pushing to transform who the government works for has been fighting massive amounts of money at every level of electoral politics — from Summer Lee overcoming millions of dollars worth of attack ads to Sara Innamorato beating a right-wing dark money scheme.
The Gainey campaign released the following statement:
"While tonight’s result isn’t what we hoped for, our people-powered movement in Pittsburgh is stronger than it’s ever been before thanks to every person who was part of this campaign to build a city for all.
"The multi-generational, multi racial-movement that has been pushing to transform who the government works for has been fighting massive amounts of money at every level of electoral politics — from Summer Lee overcoming millions of dollars worth of attack ads to Sara Innamorato beating a right-wing dark money scheme.
"And that means Corey O’Connor must be ready to carry forward the transformational progress the people of this city demand and that he promised in his campaign. The progress my administration delivered on affordable housing, policing, and community investments set a new bar that Corey will be expected to build upon.
"The people of Pittsburgh demand progress for everyone, especially people and communities who have been left out for far too long, and must continue regardless of who is in the Mayor's Office.
"I got into public service because I grew up in the very neighborhoods this city too often left behind — and I wanted to make sure City Hall finally delivered for everyone. As Mayor, I made sure my administration didn’t just bring people previously left behind to the table, we changed who the table was built for.
"From the bottom of my heart — thank you, Pittsburgh. Let’s keep fighting for each other."
The mayoral primary was an expensive race. Around $3 million was spent with a significant amount of money coming from political action committees.
On the Republican side, former Pittsburgh Police Officer Tony Moreno beat businessman Thomas West.
Moreno says he will focus his campaign on public safety, public works, parks and more.
Moreno has a tough path in November against O’Connor. A Republican has been elected mayor in Pittsburgh in nearly 100 years.